ISC'12

Prof. Dr. Richard Kenway

Professor Kenway was appointed to the Tait Chair of Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh in 1994. His research explores non-perturbative aspects of theories of elementary particles using computer simulation of lattice gauge theories, particularly the strong interactions of quarks and gluons described by Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). He led UK participation in the QCDOC project to build three 10 teraflops computers to simulate QCD, jointly with the USA and Japan, and these machines operated successfully from 2004 to 2011. Currently he leads UK participation in a follow-on project with IBM and Columbia University to build and exploit a 1.26 petaflops prototype BlueGene/Q computer, which is being installed at the University of Edinburgh. In 2002, he initiated the International Lattice Data Grid project, which provides a global infrastructure for sharing simulation data. As Vice-Principal, Professor Kenway is responsible for the UK’s High-Performance Computing Service and for promoting advanced computing technology to benefit academia and industry. For ten years, until it closed in 2011, this included the National e-Science Centre. From 2008 to 2011, he was Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy. In the Queen’s 2008 Birthday Honours, Professor Kenway was awarded an OBE for services to science. Currently, he chairs the Scientific Steering Committee of the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) and the Board of the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA). He is a founder member of the UK e-Infrastructure Leadership Council.